On these pages are my short stories, views on current affairs, graffiti, or just ramblings.

ROW80

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I sold a couple of books this week, at my local. Let this be a reminder to always have copies with you, just in case. I throw some in my shoulder bag. Or man purse, as some call it, in an attempt at humour. Do mention to new friends you are a writer - they will usually be fascinated. Then casually refer to the published books - available from Amazon, Chapter, etc. Or, from you, right there, on sale and signed. And for your old friends, talk about your latest writing triumph/disaster, just like 9-5 worker-bees go on about their jobs. Say that it's nice to finally sell the finished product. No pressure, just hints.

I've not done a lot a lot of check-in's lately, but not a lot of writing either. However, selling two copies of my first book (Kirk's Landing) reminded me that I was a writer, and do enjoy other's reactions. Especially when cash is involved. So - I finally did another Flash Fiction, for the ROW80 challenge. Mine is Too Many Bodies.

I haven't done one of these Flash Fiction stories in a while - mainly because I tend to edit too much now. It's harder for me to commit and just write - even if it's for a first draft to get started with. I used to fire these off in a couple of hours, but my thinking now is Flash means short and fast to read, not always fast to write it well. Especially when trying to fit it into a three act play format. This one took a while.

The prompt was from my ROW80 group (a Round of Words in 80 Days), a few weeks ago. We had to incorporate this photo, and the words "a burnt metal box". We were limited to 700 words.

That's me, one of the Seven Dwarfs. I started this post last night as I popped in and out of bed. It was a restless night as confirmed by my new FitBit. Sharing my bed, late night drinks, indigestion, mind whirling with plans for a big weekend - lots of correlation but no specific causation. I did get some reading done, as I've found that after 1/2 hour of restlessness I'm better to just get up. I finally did catch some zzz's, had my two coffees, and am raring to go. More people arrive tonight, Depart with Dignity military do Friday, big dinner here Saturday, then the gang flies out Sunday.

I don't mean physically, I mean with my objectives. I am semi-retired and/or self-employed, which means I don't really HAVE to do things. But I do want stick with this writerly thing.So - another check in, after a week, and a day late at that. But I am keeping a more detailed journal, so even if I stray occasionally at least I know where I went. And I did do a lot of stuff, some of it even planned. A friend just lost her partner in life after a brief but intense struggle with cancer, yet she managed somehow to stay focused on him as well as her family and all the other parts of her life. A good reminder that it's all about the journey, not necessarily the destination. But myself, I will try to be more writerly, at least up until Wednesday. My girlfriend arrives for another visit then, followed by her brother Thursday. Both staying here - he gets the couch. Then Friday it's three more of her siblings, plus their partners and some kids. Not all staying here, but we will host a dinner Saturday for all of the above. Plus some friends, as the weekend's feature attraction is one sister's divestiture (?) - leaving the military. On good terms.